Effects of Joint Position on the Distraction Distance in Patients with Adhesive Capsulitis of Glenohumeral Joint

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of joint position on the distraction distance in patients with adhesive capsulitis of glenohumeral joint. The study was conducted upon 20 adults in their 40's with the findings of adhesive capsulitis of glenohumeral joint. These subjects were subdivided into 3 groups, which were a group with neutral position(n=7), second group with resting position(n=7) and third group with end-range position(n=6). After having the subject wearing sleeveless shirts exposing armpit and lying straight on the plinth, a physical therapist with OMT qualification pulled glenohumeral joint at the Grade III of Kaltenborn-Evjenth traction; and the distance between glenoid fossa and humeral head was measured with ultrasound. Following the application of traction, the group with resting position($.67{\pm}0.29$) exhibited the longest distance between humeral head and glenoid fossa, and it was followed by neutral position($.50{\pm}0.25$) and end-range position($.35{\pm}.21$) in this order. From the comparison of these groups, there was no significant difference in distraction distance between resting position and neutral position; and there was again no significant difference in distraction distance between end-range position and neutral position. However, there was a significant difference in distraction distance between end-range position and resting position(p<.05). Upon application of the Grade III of Kaltenborn-Evjenth traction, it was evident that the distance between humeral head and glenoid fossa can be varied depending on the location of the joint.